Should I get the Flu Shot?
It’s that time of year again and I get this question all the time. Should I get the Flu Shot…aka the Fool Shot? Now if that offended you, take a second and calm down I’m just having some fun. Let’s take a look at some of the latest research first and then you make the decision for yourself.
There have been some major studies lately on the effectiveness of vitamin D and the role it plays this time of year. Current research suggests “vitamin D deficiency may actually be a major cause of influenza. People with the lowest vitamin D levels report having significantly more colds or cases of the flu”
In addition, “scientific review confirms vitamin D optimization boosts immunity and cuts rates of cold and flu. Among people vitamin D blood levels below 10 ng/mL, taking a supplement cut risk of respiratory infection by 50 percent.”
So, we know that supplementing with Vitamin D is effective at reducing our chances of getting the flu. The next question should be how effective is the flu shot? The CDC states the following: “While vaccine effectiveness can vary, recent studies show that flu vaccination reduces the risk of flu illness by between 40% and 60% among the overall population during seasons when most circulating flu viruses are well-matched to the flu vaccine.” You’re basically flipping a coin and hoping for the best.
However, flipping the coin has some side effects that we must discuss. Again, directly from the CDC:
“Common side effects from the flu shot include: Soreness, redness, and/or swelling from the shot, Headache, Fever, Nausea, Muscle aches. The flu shot, like other injections, can occasionally cause fainting. Some studies have found a possible small association of injectable flu vaccine with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).”
The flu is not a season. You can easily protect yourself against the flu with the proper nutrition, water intake, and supplementation. Finally, GET ADJUSTED! Your nervous system and immune system need to be functioning at 100% during this year’s “Flu Season”.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccineeffect.htm
